Royal Ascot target for 2021 Derby winner Adayar, set for a seasonal debut at Sandown later this month, with stablemate Hurricane Lane ready for G3 return at Newbury this weekend
GB: World #1 trainer Charlie Appleby has nominated the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot as the principal early-season target for 2021 Derby winner Adayar, who is set to return to action later this month at Sandown Park.
Britain’s champion trainer is set to unleash the 2021 Derby winner in the bet365 Gordon Richards Stakes over 10 furlongs on Friday, April 28, while stablemate Hurricane Lane – winner of the Irish Derby and St Leger in 2021 – is set for a seasonal debut at Newbury on Saturday [April 22].
Adayar will drop to G3 level for his comeback at Sandown after an intended racecourse gallop on Newmarket’s Rowley Mile. The five-year-old son of Frankel was restricted to just two starts in 2022 after missing the bulk of the campaign, having met with a small setback in the build-up to his intended return at the scene of his Classic success in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June.
After making a successful comeback at Doncaster at September in a minor conditions contest, Adayar found only Bay Bridge too strong for him on his return to G1 level in the Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot the following month.
Looking ahead to his 2023 campaign, Appleby said: “Adayar is in great form and he has been over to Waterhall (gallop) and done all our preparations pre-season and he has delighted us over there.
“His target is the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot,” added the trainer, who is world #1 according to Thoroughbred Racing Commentary's Global Rankings. “We go to Sandown with it very much as a trial but I would be disappointed if this horse is not a big player there.
“We are very much on the front foot this season as this time last year unfortunately our dream had gone for the first half of the season which became frustrating watching all those good races go by.
“He showed that he was worth our patience at the back end there winning at Doncaster which was more of an organised gallop before going into Champions Day which again was on ground that we know is not his ideal ground.
“Soft ground isn’t for him and he is a far better horse on a sound surface but he put up a very courageous race there finishing second in the Champion Stakes. We are very much looking forward to Sandown Park next week.”
Although both of Adayar’s top-level victories have come over a mile and a half, Appleby admitted that he will be campaigned over shorter for the time being in a bid to help enhance his stallion prospects.
“To start with he will be campaigned over a mile and a quarter because of his stallion CV,” he explained. “In this day and age, they want to see a bit more speed on the page.
“What he achieved in his three-year-old career winning the Derby and King George was fantastic and everyone was delighted. From a commercial point of view everyone would like to see that mile and a quarter stamped.
“To be honest with you I think it is a trip that is well within his compass. He has always been a very strong traveller in his races.
“Epsom and Ascot were fantastic results for the horse and the team but I’m pretty confident he will be putting a Group 1 10-furlong tag around his neck this year.”
Fellow Classic winner Hurricane Lane, who holds an entry in the Coronation Cup at Epsom in June, limbered up for his return to action with a gallop on the Rowley Mile ahead of racing taking place at Newmarket on Tuesday [April 18].
Working over seven furlongs under champion jockey William Buick, the 2021 Irish Derby and St Leger winner drew steadily clear of his gallop companion before crossing the line with more than five lengths in hand.
After an excellent three-year-old campaign Hurricane Lane last term suffered odds-on defeats in the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and in France in the G1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
With cut in the ground essential, Appleby is leaning towards starting the triple G1 winner off for the year at Newbury on Saturday in the G3 Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes, better known as the John Porter.
After Tuesday’s workout, Appleby said: “I’m pleased with that. We brought him up here purposely with the ground being good to soft, soft as we know he is a horse that is proven on that surface.
“His three-year-old career I don’t have to tell anyone about that, but his four-year-old career ended up being disappointing. He ran a creditable race in the Hardwicke Stakes on ground that was quick. We thought we got away with it to be honest with you.
“We then went to the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud and the ground wasn’t where we thought it was. It was quick enough that day and he ran a disappointing race.
“We purposely left it there and thought we will give this horse every chance. The one thing I wanted to make sure starting this year was that he was starting on ground with soft in the description. I don’t want any excuses.
“If the horse were not to turn up, you would have to accept that the horse did what he did as a three-year-old at the highest level and that was that.
“But on the evidence of what we have seen at home this year we have been very pleased with him as a physical, and just in his demeanour, and I think he has shown you guys out there this morning he has let himself down there.
“Going forward the plan is to take a look at Newbury on Saturday with the ground being there to suit him.”
While Hurricane Lane holds a number of G1 entries, Appleby confirmed that his major target this year would be the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – a race in which he finished third in 2021.
“The only reason this horse has stayed in training is to work back from an Arc,” he explained. “I want to make sure we tick all the right boxes and give him the best opportunity to get there.
“I don’t want to be there mid-season running on ground he doesn’t want and then telling myself I’ve made a mistake. The Arc is our long-term plan and he will be campaigned accordingly around that.”
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